Every player has heard about Will Bouton's 55-foot prayer as time expired to give Newburgh a 71-70 win against rival Mount Vernon in the state Class AA boys' basketball quarterfinals in March 2009.

Newburgh point guard Donovan Fields wishes he saw Bouton's seemingly made-for-Varsity845 miracle. Fields, then a seventh-grader, was supposed to be at Pace University that day to witness the much anticipated showdown.

However, his father left work in New York, and drove straight to Pace for the game.

"I wish I could have witnessed that," Fields said.

However, Fields will take this instead. After hearing about the rivalry for years, Fields and his teammates get their shot to face Mount Vernon in the first round of the Class AA state tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at SUNY New Paltz.

Newburgh and Mount Vernon are both 20-1.

"I remember 2009, it was pretty amazing, especially since Newburgh went on to win the state championship," said Fields, who scored a career-high 36 points in Newburgh's 72-60 win over Kingston in the Section 9 championship Saturday. "I grew up watching those games and ever since I've been on varsity, I wanted to play in this game. I'm finally getting my chance and I think we have a good chance to win."

What has become one of the best rivalries in the state began in 2006 with Mount Vernon beating Newburgh, 62-60, in the Class AA state quarterfinals. Newburgh blew a 13-point lead to Mount Vernon the following year in the quarters, falling 58-56. Then came Bouton's heave for the win in 2009. Newburgh beat Mount Vernon again in the state quarterfinals, 62-53, a year later.

The teams last met in the state playoffs three years ago with Mount Vernon beating Newburgh, 72-49, in the first round at the Westchester County Center en route to its ninth state title.

Mount Vernon reached the state tournament this season with a 47-39 win vs. Spring Valley in the Section 1 championship Sunday. The Knights usually come equipped with a Division I prospect. Over the years, Mount Vernon has produced, among others, Ben Gordon, Kevin Jones and Jabari Hinds.

This winter, Mount Vernon has no blue-chipper, but is deep — playing 10 players in its rotation. Senior point guard Akeen Krubally, cut from the team last year due to academics, was the MVP of the Spring Valley win. Two other Mount Vernon standouts include slashing guard Devonte Banner and forward Brandon Martin.

"It's going to be a tough game. They are very physical, big and long," said Newburgh coach Matt Brown. "But I'm excited to play in the game, the guys are, too. Newburgh-Mount Vernon is a pretty big rivalry. We just want to show Section 1 and the state that we are capable of producing."